Slugging-machine.



F. E. VALOIS.

SLUGGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00121. 1012.

1,1 14,943. Patented 0011.27, 1914.

2 BHBETBSEEBT 1.

Jvilug w. W 7 M 1 6 WM THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. FHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON, D. C

P. E. VALOIS.

SLUGGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00121, 1012.

Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO PHOTn-LITHQ, WASHING ION. 11C,

TE snares PATENT FFICE.

FELIXE. VALOIS, 0F HAVERHILL, MAssAcl-IUsETTS, AS SIGNOR TO HAMEL SHOE MACHINERY. COMPANY, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF.

MASSACHUSETTS.

SLUGGING-MACI-IINE.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, FELIX E. VALOIS, a citizen of the United. States, residing at Haverhill, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in slugging-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. a

My present invention has to do with machines for setting slugs in boots and shoes by forcing the end of a wire into the leather and cutting it off on a level with the surface of the shoe to form the slug. Machines of this kind are well known in the art, being usually called slugging machines, and examples are illustrated in the patent to J. Albrecht, No. 547,946, dated October 15, 1895, and the patent to S. W. Robinson No. 325,274, dated Sept. 1, 1885. i

The present invention has for its object particularly to provide feed grippers which shall seize the wire throughout the entire length of the gripping surface, to provide effective means for moving the grippers up after each down stroke, to provide such a construction of these and the related parts that they may be made strong and durable, and to provide means to prevent injury to the shoe in case the knives fail to sever the wire completely, as frequently occurs when the knives become dull or are slightly out of adjustment.

The foregoing objects are attained in the machine embodyingmy present invention, and the machine is simple and reliable, and not likely to become broken or deranged even in the hands of :an unskilful operator. The machine is also so constructed that the action of the grippers may be observed by the operator, thereby makingit easier for order.

The invention will be fully understood from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the novel features thereof are pointed out and clearly defined in the claims at the end of the specification.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying my present invention, the slug setting instrumentalities beingin their highest position.

Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

Serial No. 726,906. r i i Fig. is a vertical section of the parts shown in Fig. 1 with the slug setting instrumen- 1 talities in their lowest position. Fig.3 is a This tube is cut away on the sides to permit the serrated edges of the grippers 16 (see also Fig. i) to contact with the wire in the central channel inthe feed tube, and is of uniform cross-section throughout its entire length, except at the extreme lower end. The two gripper-s are each made with an inclined outside face I), which slopes out Wardly toward the bottom of the gripper,

andthe pusher 12 is made with two corresponding inclined faces 0 which are parallel with the faces 7) on the grippers so that they contact with each other for substantially their entire length. The grippers thus constructed have, as will be seen from the drawings, no great or sudden variation in cross section as is the case with grippers having anotch in their outer surface, or a projecting member attached thereto. The only differences in the cross section of the grippers throughout their entire length are those due to the serrations and to the in-.

elincd outside face; the grippers are therefore better capable of withstanding unusual strain and the reliability of the machine is much increased.

It will be seen that when the pusher 12 other parts and there is no rigid retracting member for them, with the consequent difficulties arising from the use of a rigid retracting member.

For the purpose of causing the grippers to move upwardly again :after they have com-.

, gripper and the other of which engages a hole in the lower end of the member 18 in which the knives are guided.

The feed tube or throat 15 is of uniform cross-section throughout its entire length except for the small portion below the lower end of the grippers. There is therefore no Weak spot in the feed tube so that it will not break even if the machine is improperly operated. This construction is rendered possible by the fact that the feed grippers are retracted by springs instead of by a rigid operating member, partly contained within the feed tube. Furthermore the grippers are not cut away at any point throughout their length.

As the inclined surface on the pusher contacts with the corresponding inclined surface on the gripper for substantially the entire length of the latter surface, the gripper cannot tilt toward the wire at the top and allow the wire to buckle in the space between the lower ends of the grippers Furthermore the pressure to which the wire is subjected by the grippers is substantially uniform throughout the length of the grippers. 1 1, 1% are guided is cut away below the cross bar 25 on which the knife actuating levers 14, 1 1 are supported, as will be clearly seen inFig. l and Fig. 3, the opening being des-' ignated f. This opening enables the operator to observe the lower ends of the grippers 16 at the sides of the feed tube 15 and to clean or oil the parts if necessary. The knives 13 13 which are adjustably mounted on the lower ends of the pivoted levers 14, 1 1 are operated by two cams 20 and 21. These two cams each have a long rest d and e respectively, so that the knives 13, 13, will remain together for substantially the entire upstroke of the machine, opening just as the top of the lip-stroke is reached. This arrangement has an important result. In case the knives are dull or improperly adjusted so that they have not completely severed the wire, they will either break off the wire at the level of the heel, if the wire has been nearly severed, or will lift the shoe up off the support, by which the operator will be warned that the wire has not been severed and that the knives are dull or improperly adjusted. In either case no harm to the shoe results such as occurs where the knives open as soon as the cutting takes place in which case if the wire has not been severed, it is pulled down on the upstroke of the machine and is bent over and bedded into the shoe on the next'movement.

T he member 18 in which the knives What I claim is:

1. In a slugging machine, the combination of a pair of wire grippers each having a serrated face for engagement with the wire and an inclined exterior face extend ing nearly the entire length of the gripper, a pusher having a reciprocating movement parallel with the wire and having corresponding inclined faces substantially parallel with the faces on the grippers and contacting therewith throughout the length of the inclined surfaces on the grippers and means for positivelyactuating said reciprocating pusher to causeit to contact with said grippers and actuate them positively to grip the wire and feed it into the work.

2. In a slugging machine, the combination with wire grippers having inclined surfaces, of a reciprocating member having inclined surfaces cooperating with the inclined surfaces of the grippers, said reciprocating member causing said grippers to grip and feed the wire during one movement of its reciprocation, and a spring acting on each gripper to move it back with said member during the opposite movement of said re ciprocation.

8. In a slugging machine, the combination of serrated grippers each havmg an 1nclmed exterior surface, a reciprocating pusher having inclined surfaces cooperating with the inclined surfaces of the grippers, the movement of said pusher in one direction causing said grippers to grip the wire and move with it in said direction, and a spring acting on each gripper and moving it with said pusher in the opposite direction.

4. lln a slugging machine, the combinationwith a feed tube of uniform cross-section throughout substantially its entire length, of grippers slidable in slots in the said feed tube, a vertically reciprocating pusher actuating the grippers in one direction and springs acting directly on the grippers to actuate them in the other direction.

5. In a slugging machine, the combination of a pusher reciprocating parallel with the wire to be fed and having inclined faces for engagement with grippers, a slotted feed tube having abore of uniform cross section throughout nearly its entire length, a pair in closed position during the upward stroke of the Wire feedin mechanism.

7. The improve prising vertically reciprocating Wire feeding mechanism, knives to sever the Wire, and

slugging machine come hold the knives in closed position during the upstroke of the wire feeding mechanism.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

FELIX E. VALOIS. Witnesses:

GEORGE P. DIKE, Amos H. MomusoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, .by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

